Death Row prisoner Troy Davis’ execution has been delayed following a string of last-minute appeals and pleas from celebrity supporters to keep the convicted murderer alive. Actress and human rights activist Mia Farrow, Salman Rushdie, civil rights leader Revd. Al Sharpton, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and Davis’ family friend Big Boi have all spoken out, urging authorities in Georgia to halt the execution, which was scheduled for 7pm local time on Wednesday night.

Davis was convicted in 1991 of fatally shooting off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail, despite prosecutors failing to find a murder weapon or any physical evidence linking him to the crime.

His lawyers have maintained their client is a victim of mistaken identity.

A plea for clemency was rejected on Tuesday and one final appeal, filed on Wednesday morning, was also denied. Officials also refused Davis’ last-ditch request for a lie detector test.

Reports suggest Georgia authorities are awaiting a verdict from the Supreme Court before deciding whether to press on with the execution by lethal injection.